Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
29 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2003 model years. Data updated: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 29 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 20.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Parking Brake:Conventional: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Visibility:Windshield: 2; Electrical System: 1
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 3; 1997: 1; 1998: 2; 1999: 2; 2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2007: 1; 2010: 1
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748283 at NHTSA ↗
CAR HAD 15000 MILES WHEN CONSUMER PUCHASED IT. AT 21000 MILES NEEDED BRAKES. AT 33000 MILES NEEDED BRAKES AND ROTORS. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THE BOOK CALLS FOR A CHANGE EVERY 33000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 853456 at NHTSA ↗
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 539344 at NHTSA ↗
ST: 8TH OF 2004 THE BATTERY STARTED TO DIE,\. DEALER TOLD CALLER TO SHUT THE ALARM SYSTEM OFF WHEN NOT DRIVING. VEHICLE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY KIA, AND REPORTED NO PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY. HOWEVER, BATTERY HAD TO BE CHARGED NUMEROUS TIMES IN DRIVEWAY. ON MAY 2005 THE LOCKS BEGAN TO GO ON AND OFF, AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE BATTERY, BUT DEALER REPORTED THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. 05/05/05 AS CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD AND ALL SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON, AND LOCKS CAME ON AND OFF, AND CAR SHU…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120072 at NHTSA ↗
DT: HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTOR AND THE BRAKES. THE MASTER CYLINDER IS SHOT ON THE CAR. IT NEEDS ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES AGAIN; CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121708 at NHTSA ↗
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
29 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 745720MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS,KIA SERVICE LOOKED AT IT AND TRY TO FIX IT BUT CANT NOW THAY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT SO I DONT NOW WHAT TO DO PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME,JOE THORNE OF KIA IS THE PERSON TO TALK TO AND I THINK THAT THAY DONT WANT TO FIXIT BECAUSE THAY HAD TWO TRYS AND THAY DONT NOW WHAT IT IS,*AK | 133.3%ODI 10016361 · 6,500 miJAN. 10TH- BRAKED TO AVOID ACCIDENT ON I-59 AT 70 MPH AND CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE-RAN OFF I-59 AND COLLIDED WITH TREE FEB. 14- BRAKED AGAIN AT HIGH SPEED TO AVOID ACCIDENT AND CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. HIT TREE AND ALMOST LOST LIFE. WOULD HAVE LOST LIFE HAD NOT SOMEONE PULLED ME FROM VEHICLE, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED DOWN COMPLETELY. *NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7% | 250.0%ODI 10059724 · 99,500 miAIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 9003549AFTER LOOKING DOWN FOR A SECOND, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES, LANDING UP SIDE DOWN, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND DRY. *AK | 233.3%ODI 10321562 · 65,000 miI PURCHASED A 2007 KIA OPTIMA USED IN OCTOBER 2007. THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 18,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN LATE 2009, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON EVER SINCE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, EVEN WHEN A NORMAL-SIZED ADULT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 748283THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING! | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 748283THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING! | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 745720MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS,KIA SERVICE LOOKED AT IT AND TRY TO FIX IT BUT CANT NOW THAY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT SO I DONT NOW WHAT TO DO PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME,JOE THORNE OF KIA IS THE PERSON TO TALK TO AND I THINK THAT THAY DONT WANT TO FIXIT BECAUSE THAY HAD TWO TRYS AND THAY DONT NOW WHAT IT IS,*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 487546SPARE TIRE CARRIER LATCH FAILED, CAUSING CARRIER TO SWING OPEN/BEND. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10059724 · 99,500 miAIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | Too few reports for a range | 6,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10016361 · 6,500 miJAN. 10TH- BRAKED TO AVOID ACCIDENT ON I-59 AT 70 MPH AND CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE-RAN OFF I-59 AND COLLIDED WITH TREE FEB. 14- BRAKED AGAIN AT HIGH SPEED TO AVOID ACCIDENT AND CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. HIT TREE AND ALMOST LOST LIFE. WOULD HAVE LOST LIFE HAD NOT SOMEONE PULLED ME FROM VEHICLE, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED DOWN COMPLETELY. *NLM |
| Air Bags | Too few reports for a range | 99,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10059724 · 99,500 miAIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR |
| Air Bags:Frontal | Too few reports for a range | 65,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10321562 · 65,000 miI PURCHASED A 2007 KIA OPTIMA USED IN OCTOBER 2007. THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 18,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN LATE 2009, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON EVER SINCE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, EVEN WHEN A NORMAL-SIZED ADULT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. |
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 99,500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10059724 · 99,500 miAIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR |
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 2 complaints · 2003: 3 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Unknown Or Other | Air Bags | Air Bags:Frontal | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | Parking Brake:Conventional | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Visibility:Windshield | Electrical System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 745720MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS,KIA SERVICE LOOKED AT IT AND TRY TO FIX IT BUT CANT NOW THAY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT SO I DONT NOW WHAT TO DO PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME,JOE THORNE OF KIA IS THE PERSON TO TALK TO AND I THINK THAT THAY DONT WANT TO FIXIT BECAUSE THAY HAD TWO TRYS AND THAY DONT NOW WHAT IT IS,*AK | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10059724 · 99,500 miAIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 748283THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING! | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 748283THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING! | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1ODI 745720MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS,KIA SERVICE LOOKED AT IT AND TRY TO FIX IT BUT CANT NOW THAY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT SO I DONT NOW WHAT TO DO PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME,JOE THORNE OF KIA IS THE PERSON TO TALK TO AND I THINK THAT THAY DONT WANT TO FIXIT BECAUSE THAY HAD TWO TRYS AND THAY DONT NOW WHAT IT IS,*AK | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Electrical System | 0 | 1ODI 10059724 · 99,500 miAIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
1 mentions · 3.4% of complaints
Median mileage: 800 mi (1 usable records).
WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE COILS BURNED OUT. *AK ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH O-RING LEAKING GAS INTO THE AIR VENTS. *LA *JB
\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\b